Abstract

Background: Hirsutism, a common clinical condition, not onlycauses cosmetic concern but may also be a sign of underlyingdisease. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an importantand common cause of hirsutism. In fact, many women withPCOS present as hirsutism. This study assessed young Kashmiriwomen presenting ...
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Background: Hirsutism, a common clinical condition, not onlycauses cosmetic concern but may also be a sign of underlyingdisease. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an importantand common cause of hirsutism. In fact, many women withPCOS present as hirsutism. This study assessed young Kashmiriwomen presenting as hirsutism, for ultrasonographic evidence ofpolycystic ovaries (PCO), in addition to recording their clinical andhormonal profile. The purpose of this study was to determine theprevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome using ultrasonography,in young Kashmiri women presenting as hirsutism.Method: In total, one hundred and seventy (170) consecutive youngKashmiri women presenting with chief complaint of hirsutismwere assessed. A total of eighty (80) age matched non- hirsutefemales having normal menstrual cycles, served as controls. Theovaries were visualised by transabdominal ultrasonography (USG).The serum was analysed for luteinizing hormone (LH), folliclestimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone (tT), prolactin(PRL) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).Result: The study showed prevalence of 61.18% PCOS in youngKashmiri women presenting as hirsutism. PCOS was diagnosed in35.11% hirsute women with regular menses and ultrasonographywas used to identify PCO in 90.35% patients. Biochemicalhyperandrogenemia was present in 70.15% of the patients andthe LH/FSH ratio increased in 81.73% of the patients.Conclusion: The results of this study show a high prevalence ofPCOS in young Kashmiri women presenting as hirsutism andalso highlights the fact that PCOS is not necessarily associatedwith menstrual disturbances. Therefore, all hirsute women, evenwith regular menses, should be evaluated for PCOS.

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated skin diseasewith a genetic predisposition. Prolactin may contribute to psoriasispathogenesis. However, there has been a debate over the serumlevel of prolactin in psoriatic patients. The aim of this study was todescribe the role of serum prolactin in ...
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Background: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated skin diseasewith a genetic predisposition. Prolactin may contribute to psoriasispathogenesis. However, there has been a debate over the serumlevel of prolactin in psoriatic patients. The aim of this study was todescribe the role of serum prolactin in the pathogenesis of psoriasisMethod: The serum prolactin level was measured in 45 patientswith psoriasis and in 45 sex- and age-matched healthy individualsusing radioimmunoassay.Result: The mean serum prolactin concentration was not differentbetween psoriatic patients and healthy controls (320 ± 179.38 vs.318.18 ± 191.78 mIU/L, respectively P = 0.95). There was no sexandage-related differences in serum prolactin between the twostudy groups. Hyperprolactinemia (serum prolactin >324 mIU/Lin men, and >496 mIU/L for women) was observed in 11 patientswith psoriasis and 12 healthy subjects, which showed no significantdifference between the two groups (P = 0.81). The serum prolactinwas not significantly correlated with the duration of the disease(r = -0.18, P = 0.24) or the PASI score (r = 0.10, P = 0.50).Conclusion: The possible role of pituitary-produced circulatingprolactin in the disease process needs further investigations.

Abstract

Background: The ABO blood group antigens play a role in thepathophysiology of some diseases and several researches haveinvestigated this relationship in the field of dermatology. In thepresent study, an attempt was made to find the distribution ofblood types in patients with pemphigus vulgaris and chronicplaque ...
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Background: The ABO blood group antigens play a role in thepathophysiology of some diseases and several researches haveinvestigated this relationship in the field of dermatology. In thepresent study, an attempt was made to find the distribution ofblood types in patients with pemphigus vulgaris and chronicplaque type psoriasis.Method: Fifty patients with chronic plaque type psoriasis, 50patients with pemphigus vulgaris and 100 healthy persons ascontrol group, were selected as the study population. ABO bloodgrouping was determined by the cell type tube test method, usingstandard commercial anti/A, anti/B and 5% suspension of redblood cells. Chi square test was used to compare the frequencyof ABO blood groups in patients and control groups.Result: Among the 50 patients with psoriasis, 21 (42%) hadblood group O, 15 (30%) blood group A, 10 (20%) blood groupB and 8 (4%) had blood group AB. Among the 50 patients in thepemphigus group, 22 (44%) had blood group O, 19 (38%) bloodgroup A, 8 (16%) blood group B and 1 (2%) had blood groupAB. The distribution of blood groups in patients with these twodiseases was not significantly different from the control group.Conclusion: Despite some researches, which found associationsbetween blood group antigens and psoriasis or pemphigus, thisstudy did not find any such relationship.

Abstract

Background: Skin reflects the general health status and is not an exception in the process of aging. Intervention studies indicate that it is possible to delay skin aging and improve skin conditions through diet-based anti-aging strategies. The purpose of the current work was to review recent existing ...
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Background: Skin reflects the general health status and is not an exception in the process of aging. Intervention studies indicate that it is possible to delay skin aging and improve skin conditions through diet-based anti-aging strategies. The purpose of the current work was to review recent existing literature regarding the role of nutrition, for and against skin aging processes.Method: This review provides updates on the effects of nutrition strategies on skin aging developed during 2008-2014. Databases such as the ISI web of science, PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar were investigated.Result: The most important role of nutrition on skin aging is by restricting the generation or activation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which is considered as the main cause of extrinsic skin aging. Excess sugar in daily diet accelerates aging processes through the production of advanced glycation end products that inhibit proper repair of collagen fibers. Monounsaturated and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have inverse association with severe photoaging. Antioxidants such as vitamins C, A, E, carotenoids, flavonoids and botanical antioxidants such as resveratrol, curcumin and green tea polyphenols effectively decelerate this process. Zinc, selenium and copper are coenzymes of metallothioneins and glutathione that reduce intracellular oxidative stress and result in skin protection.Conclusion: The link between nutritional issues and skin aging is an interesting but conflicting subject that requires many interventional studies. Intracellular antioxidant mechanisms are the most effective protection against skin aging.

Abstract

Kaposi sarcoma is a malignant disease that originates fromthe lymphatic system. Different epidemiological, clinical andhistopathological variants of this neoplasm have been identified.Classic Kaposi sarcoma is one of the four main clinico-epidemiologicvariants. Cutaneous lesions vary from pink patches ...
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Kaposi sarcoma is a malignant disease that originates fromthe lymphatic system. Different epidemiological, clinical andhistopathological variants of this neoplasm have been identified.Classic Kaposi sarcoma is one of the four main clinico-epidemiologicvariants. Cutaneous lesions vary from pink patches to darkviolet plaques, nodules or polyps, depending on clinical variantand stage. Kaposi sarcoma with elephantiasis is reported in thecontext of AIDS. An 82-year-old male presented with a 2-yearhistory of progressive verrucous skin changes and non-pittingedema consistent with elephantiasis nostras verrucosa (ENV),secondary to Kaposi’s sarcoma. Past medical history, physicalexamination, lab tests and imaging ruled out common causes ofENV and anti-HIV antibody test was negative. Classic Kaposisarcoma was confirmed on biopsy. To the best of our knowledge,this study reports the first case of elephantiasis nostras verrucosain an HIV-negative patient with classic Kaposi sarcoma.

Abstract

Bazex-Dupre-Christol (BDC) syndrome is clinically characterizedby multiple basal cell carcinomas of the face that mainly occurduring the second and third decade of life, follicular atrophodermapredominantly of the dorsum sides of the hands and feetand generalized hypotrichosis; sometimes with pili torti ...
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Bazex-Dupre-Christol (BDC) syndrome is clinically characterizedby multiple basal cell carcinomas of the face that mainly occurduring the second and third decade of life, follicular atrophodermapredominantly of the dorsum sides of the hands and feetand generalized hypotrichosis; sometimes with pili torti andtrichorrhexis nodosa. Features commonly associated with BDCare milia, hypohidrosis and calcifying epithelial tumours. In thisstudy, four members of one family with BDC syndrome, a motherand her three daughters were reported. The major clinical featuresof BDC were very typical in the mother and one of the daughterswhereas only follicular atrophoderma, milia and hypotrichosiswere present in the other two daughters. Bazex Dupre ChristolSyndrome is a hereditary multiple basal cell carcinoma (BCC)syndrome whose pattern of inheritance is thought to be X-linkeddominant, which implies that all daughters of affected mothersshould be having this disease. In this case report, among the fourdaughters, only three were suffering from BDCS while one istotally asymptomatic. Based on the literature review, this appearsto be the first report of a family with BDC from Pakistan.

Abstract

The histiocytoses are a group of proliferative disorders of themonocyte-macrophage lineage that are neoplastic or reactive innature. Based on immunophenotyping and electron microscopy,two main groups have been recognized namely 1) Langerhanscell histiocytosis (LCH) and 2) non- Langerhans cell histiocytosis(non-LCH). ...
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The histiocytoses are a group of proliferative disorders of themonocyte-macrophage lineage that are neoplastic or reactive innature. Based on immunophenotyping and electron microscopy,two main groups have been recognized namely 1) Langerhanscell histiocytosis (LCH) and 2) non- Langerhans cell histiocytosis(non-LCH). In this study, a fairly rare disease of the non-LCHgroup, generalized eruptive histiocytosis, has been reported.

Abstract

Folate plays an important role in metabolism and its deficiency can lead to cardiovascular problems or carcinogenesis. Some studies show that narrow band UVB (NBUVB) causes folate deficiency by photolysis , while others have different opinions or even the contrary. With regard to paradoxes in this context, ...
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Folate plays an important role in metabolism and its deficiency can lead to cardiovascular problems or carcinogenesis. Some studies show that narrow band UVB (NBUVB) causes folate deficiency by photolysis , while others have different opinions or even the contrary. With regard to paradoxes in this context, we decided to study the effect of NBUVB on folate levels in patients with dermatologic disorders.

Abstract

Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) is an autoimmune blistering disease presenting in endemic and sporadic forms. The typical presentation is recurrent shallow erosions in a seborrheic distribution. PF has also been found in association with autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune thyroid disease (e.g. toxic nodular ...
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Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) is an autoimmune blistering disease presenting in endemic and sporadic forms. The typical presentation is recurrent shallow erosions in a seborrheic distribution. PF has also been found in association with autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune thyroid disease (e.g. toxic nodular goiter and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis). In some patients, PF appears to be triggered by radioiodine therapy.